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Policy Formulation and Processes

This document discusses different types of policies and the policy development process. It defines policy as a course of action to achieve objectives for people. There are substantive/administrative, vertical/horizontal, reactive/proactive, and current/future policies. Policy development involves selecting objectives, identifying targets, determining pathways, designing programs, and assessing impact. The goal is to make good decisions in the public interest by considering options and their potential effects, costs, time, political factors, and who benefits.

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Rohaida Rohani
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424 views

Policy Formulation and Processes

This document discusses different types of policies and the policy development process. It defines policy as a course of action to achieve objectives for people. There are substantive/administrative, vertical/horizontal, reactive/proactive, and current/future policies. Policy development involves selecting objectives, identifying targets, determining pathways, designing programs, and assessing impact. The goal is to make good decisions in the public interest by considering options and their potential effects, costs, time, political factors, and who benefits.

Uploaded by

Rohaida Rohani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Presented by:

Henry Clarke Kisembo

What is Policy
A course of action that will create a desired objective
in the interest of the masses or the people in a given
country.

Types of Policies
Substantive and Administration policy

The first is concerned with the legislation, programs


and practices that govern the substantive aspects of
community work. This dimension of policy includes, for
example, income security, employment initiatives,
child care services and social exclusion.

Types of Policies
The second type of policy focuses largely upon
administrative procedures. These involve, for instance,
the collection of statistical information on
neighbourhoods and the evaluation of complex
community programs.

Types of Policies
Vertical and Horizontal Policy

Horizontal policy-making is developed by two or more


organizations, each of which has the ability or
mandate to deal with only one dimension of a given
situation. Horizontal or integrated policy is created
between parts of an organization or among
organizational components that are similar in
hierarchical position [Smith 2003: 11-12].

Types of Policies
Governments increasingly are focusing their efforts
upon horizontal policy-making in recognition of the
fact that many of the objectives they seek to achieve
are complex and relate to the mandates of two or more
departments, jurisdictions or non-governmental
organizations. Areas of common interest include, for
example, climate change, Youth employment and the
range of concerns rooted in cities and communities.

Types of Policies
Vertical Policy

Vertical policy is what we think of as the normal or


traditional way in which policy decisions are made. It
is developed within a single organizational structure
and generally starts with broad overarching policy,
sometimes called corporate or framework policy.
Such decisions are made at head office and guide
subsequent decisions throughout the organization.

Types of Policies
Reactive and Proactive Policy

Reactive policy emerges in response to a concern or


crisis that must be addressed health emergencies
and environmental disasters are two examples.
Proactive policies, by contrast, are introduced and
pursued through deliberate choice. Increasingly have
been recognized as vital keys that unlock the doors to
both economic wealth and social well-being.

Types of Policies
Current and Future Policy

Those that are currently on the public agenda and


those that are not. Issues already on the public policy
agenda (e.g., health care) often have high profile. A
formal process to amend or improve the existing
arrangement generally is in place.

Types of Policies
If an issue is not currently or never has been alive on
the public agenda, then there is work to be done in
making the case for its importance and raising
awareness about the implications of non-response.
Making the case usually involves gathering evidence
that supports the policy. Relevant evidence includes,
for example, research findings, evaluation data and
results from focus groups.

Purpose of Public Policy


Public policy has a clear and unique purpose which is;
seeking to achieve a desired goal that is considered to
be in the best interest of all members of society.
Examples include clean air, clean water, good health,
increased employment, an innovative economy, active
trade, high educational attainment, decent and
affordable housing, minimal levels of poverty,
improved literacy, low crime and a socially cohesive
society, to name a few.

Policy development as a decision


making process
A public policy is a deliberate and (usually) careful
decision that provides guidance for addressing
selected public concerns. Policy development can be
seen, then, as a decision making process that helps
address identified goals, problems or concerns. At its
core, policy development entails the selection of a
destination or desired objective.

Policy development as a decision


making process
The actual formulation of policy involves the
identification and analysis of a range of actions that
respond to these concerns. Each possible solution is
assessed against a number of factors such as probable
effectiveness, potential cost, resources required for
implementation, political context and community
support.

Policy development as a decision


making process
In short, any given policy represents the end result of a
decision as to how best to achieve a specific objective.
Most people actually apply a similar process in the
decisions they make in their everyday lives even
around fairly inconsequential choices.

Public Policy and Poverty reduction


Poverty reduction involves multiple pathways

Like many public policy concerns, poverty is a


complex issue whose roots can be traced to many
different factors. These include low levels of literacy
and education; poor health or severe disability;
economic shocks such as recession or labour market
restructuring that typically throw substantial numbers
out of work; and sudden change in life circumstances,
such as separation, divorce or death of a spouse.

Public Policy and Poverty reduction


While it has not been established that any one or all of
these factors actually cause poverty, research evidence
finds that they tend to be correlated with high levels of
poverty. A correlation means that these factors are
generally found to co-exist. The presence of multiple
correlates of poverty means that a range of solutions is
required to address this multidimensional problem.

Policy formulation processes


Several steps comprise the policy process

1. Selecting the desired objective.


2. Identifying the target of the objective.
3. Determining the pathway to reach that objective.
4. Designing the specific program or measure in
respect of that goal; Target, Cost and Financing,
Political issues.
5. Implementing the measure and assessing its impact.

Conclusion
Public policy represents a decision, made by a publicly
elected or designated body, which is deemed to be in
the public interest.
Policy development involves the selection of choices
about the most appropriate means to a desired end. A
policy decision is the result of a method, which in
theory at least, considers a range of options and the
potential impact of each. The weighing of options
takes into account various factors, including:

Conclusion
who benefits (the more the better).
who might be negatively affected (the fewer the
better).
time required to implement the solution.
associated cost and financing.
political complexities of a federate government
structure.

Conclusion
At the end of the day, the formulation of public policy
involves a process of making good decisions for the
public good.

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